Financial Service

Our objective

" To be a “one stop shop” so clients can have a single coordinated point of contact for all your financial affairs. We aim to make our fee arrangements as transparent as possible, and the delivery of our advice as sophisticated yet simple as possible. Our financial advice is your future and we take it very seriously.

Our Advice Philosophy

Dolman Bateman Financial is a specialist financial advice business. Our belief is that advice should be fit for purpose and in the best interest of clients. We have structured our advice delivery process and compliance systems to ensure that our clients receive the best advice they can get when they come to Dolman Bateman. Unlike traditional financial planning practices, Dolman Bateman is not bound by a set list of product from which we make recommendations. We are able to recommend shares, managed funds, an investment property, buying into a private business, the list goes on. Advice starts with the client first. Products are not the beginning of a financial plan, they are means of implementing a broader financial plan.

Dolman Bateman Financial maintains the integrity of its advice through the following:

• All strategies are understood and discussed with at least two directors to ensure consideration is given to: – the client’s existing situation, goals and objectives – the client’s current products – taxation – appropriate legislation – investment and other risks – liquidity and cash flow – estate planning and estate tax
• Each SOA is read and agreed upon by two directors before being sent to Dover for final review and archiving.
• All advice is reviewed with clients at least annually with optional 6-month reviews to ensure it remains appropriate and in their best interests. This process ensures that our clients, and the Dolman Bateman name, are held to the highest standard.

Our Investment Philosophy

At Dolman Bateman Financial, our approach to investment is one of conservatism. There are essentially two types of investing: passive/index investment and active investment. We generally recommend passive investing using index funds. Index funds are either managed funds, or exchange traded funds (essentially managed funds tradable on the ASX but with a few small tax and other differences).

Passive investment funds simply buy a portfolio of assets that mimic an index, such as the all ordinaries index or the S&P200 index. Index funds generate a return, before fees, that is almost the same as the index it is tracking (some funds may have timing delays). An index investment carries less overall investment risk than an active investment as your investments are so diversified that you effectively own some of every share or security that makes up the relevant index. Index investment managers also charge lower fees.

Active managed funds, on the other hand, believe they can obtain better than index (market) returns and will pick investments they believe will outperform the index. Your risk then extends beyond the general market risk. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission has said, “Actively managed funds are more expensive as you are paying for the investment skills of the fund manager. Unfortunately actively managed funds rarely consistently outperform the market and any extra profits are often outweighed by extra fees paid to the fund manager.”